Tight end could be the Beavers’ strongest position on offense.
CORVALLIS — Beefed up in the transfer portal, the tight end position is showcasing its depth and talent for Oregon State as spring football progresses.
The Beavers added Central Catholic (Portland) alum and former Miami tight end Riley Williams in the portal, along with BYU transfer Jackson Bowers. Both have shown themselves as fierce blockers and reliable targets across the middle for new quarterback Maalik Murphy this spring.
OSU also brings back Bryce Caufield, forming a steady trio. But among the three, it appears Bowers has found a distinct rhythm with Murphy thus far, which doesn’t diminish the contributions of the imposing Williams or reliable Caufield.
“We’re stacked,” Bowers said. “We’re definitely a very stacked tight end room. When I was at BYU, we had a lot of good tight ends, but we’re surrounded by a lot of athletes here. Riley is an NFL tight end, Bryce is an NFL tight end, and I’m hoping to be an NFL tight end someday.”
Bowers and Caufield are 6-4, and Williams is 6-6. Even against a long and lanky OSU secondary, the trio’s size and strength is apparent on a day-to-day basis. For a revamped Beavers defensive line as well as linebacking corps, that can sometimes pose a significant challenge.
“Blocking-wise, I feel like I’m manhandling people and doing my job every time,” Bowers said. “Passing-wise, every time the tight ends are thrown the ball, I feel like we have a good day at practice. That connection is there.”
Bowers appeared in just five games across two seasons at BYU as a four-star prospect out of Mountain View High School in Arizona. Williams was a four-star recruit as well, playing for IMG Academy in Florida for one year following three seasons at Central Catholic. Williams eventually earned regular appearances for the Hurricanes across two seasons, amasssing 15 receptions for 187 yards and 1 TD in 21 total games.
Both are seeking a career reset in partnership with the veteran quarterback Murphy.
The zip on throws from Murphy is something that has stood out to Bowers, who said the ball arrives — hard and fast — in his hands the instant he turns around on some routes. Working with a quarterback of Murphy’s caliber and experience, along with developing into an NFL tight end, was the biggest draw to OSU, Bowers said.
Bowers hopes the scheme and his defined role will become second nature by the end of fall camp, so he can truly show what he’s capable of. Given some of the catches and blocks Bowers has made in the open portions of spring practice so far, it appears he is well on his way.
“Just want to perfect my technique in everything that I do so there’s no thinking with what I’m doing,” Bowers said. “Just going and executing it and finishing the play, not what my first step is, just going beyond the basics.”
— Ryan Clarke covers college sports for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach him at RClarke@Oregonian.com or on Twitter/X: @RyanTClarke. Find him on Bluesky: @ryantclarke.bsky.social.